Ortiz Leads PawSox Past Mud Hens, 6-1

Could two rehab starts go any better?

David Ortiz belted his second homer in as many games, guiding the PawSox to a 6-1 win over the Toledo Mud Hens last night in a game shortened to seven innings because of rain.

Ortiz hit a three-run homer into the berm in left in the bottom of the fifth on a 1-1 pitch off Toledo starter Anastacio Martinez.

Ortiz came up to the plate four times. He went 1 for 2 with two walks. He was retired in the first on a pop-up to third.

The PawSox scored their first two runs in the bottom of the fourth in an inning where Pawtucket ran themselves out of a bigger inning. Ortiz led off with a walk. Singles by Chris Carter and Dusty Brown leaded the bases with no one out. Outfielder Jeff Corsaletti then laced a ball that sailed over the head of Toledo center fielder Clete Thomas and rolled to the wall. Ortiz and Carter scored, but Brown was thrown out at the plate after running through Manager Ron Johnson's stop sign at third.

On the first pitch to Keith Ginter, Corsaletti was thrown out trying to steal third. Ginter flied out to right to end the inning.

The sixth PawSox run came in the fifth, before Ortiz' three-run homer, on a Joe Thurston RBI double to right that plated Gil Velazquez.

PawSox starter Davern Hansack gave the PawSos their second straight strong outing. Hansack pitched all seven innings, giving up only two hits. He struck out eight and walked no one. Hansack did give up a solo home run to Toledo SS Michael Hollimon in the fifth.

At 63-37 the PawSox are 26 games over .500 for the first time in team history.

The two teams continue their four game set tonight (6:05pm). Knuckleballer Charlie Zink (11-2, 2.22 ERA) will start for the PawSox. Toledo's starter has yet to be announced.

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